Local Authors “Unbridle” Their Talent

by Lorna Lowe

Friday, November 02, 2012

Local author Lori Gunsch, and her husband Jimmy, wrote a book titled "Unbridle The Magic Within" that shot to the top of Amazon.ca's best seller list.

Jimmy and Lori Gunsch are fairly well known names around Leduc County, particularly in ranching and rodeo circles. But several years back, when BSE (Mad Cow Disease) hit Alberta cattle ranchers hard, the Gunsch's knew life would never be the same.

"Our life up until then had been really good." shared Lori, "Then Mad Cow came along at the same time that Jimmy was encountering some challenges with his rodeo career, and we realized things had to change."

"We needed to start looking at where we wanted to go in life, and we decided that we would take on a "yes" attitude and check out any opportunity that presented itself no matter what it looked like in the beginning." said Lori.

This outlook led to the Gunsch's accepting an invitation to attend a large seminar where free tickets were handed out to attend a second information session on how to write a book.

"Out of the 1,200 or so people that had attended the original seminar," said Lori, "only about 60 of us took up the offer of the second one on how to write a book. So because of the hardships we had been through, our willingness to try new things, and the fact that we said 'yes' to attending this free seminar, it has brought us to where we are today."

The idea of writing a book about the lessons they had learned, and the ways of looking at life, and the people around you, to get you through your challenges, really clicked for the Gunsch's.

"Our Publisher, Tag Publishing, who had put on the How To Write A Book seminar, walked us through the whole process, and were a wonderful resource for us." stated Lori. "They were with us every step of the way and mentored us all the way through."

And this is how, after three years of hard work, their book titled "Unbridle The Magic Within" came to be.

"It's about the attitude with which you face life." said Lori. "Making sure everything is in balance. Ensuring that the three main areas in your life get equal attention; time, health and money. If you take from one area you have to replace it in the others. After all, what does it matter if you are rich but you don't have your health?"

Lori shared that the process of writing the book grew them as a couple. "Jimmy and I had to think through all of the different situations that we've experienced, and we did a lot of talking about the attitudes and thought processes that we adopted to get us through the tough times. I think it has helped us to become better parents, and we have also watched as our daughters began following some of the ways of thinking that we have written about, and how it has helped improve their lives as well."

The Gunsch's feel that there is something of value in this book for people all ages. "We have been encouraged to give presentations in schools based on what is in our book." said Lori. "But we have also been approached by everyone from newlyweds to people in their 70's that have shared with us how this book has impacted their lives. That is very special because Jimmy and I are just ordinary people writing about what we've learned, and we are becoming mentors for others."

Mentorship is a very important concept to the Gunsch's. "First you need to figure out where you want to go in life." stated Lori, "Then you need to be mentored by people who are already there. People also need to realize they are in control of their own lives. Taking responsibility for their decisions and understanding, for good or bad, you are where you are due to the decisions you've made. If you need to make changes In your life, figure out what they are and make them. Even by not choosing not to do something you are still making a choice."

The Gunsch's philosophy obviously struck home with a lot of people because just a couple of weeks after they released Unbridle The Magic Within on September 11, 2011 on amazon.ca, it became a #1 Best Seller on the site.

"When that happened it was pretty cool!" laughed Lori. "Writing this book has changed our lives. I don't live in 'tunnel vision' anymore. I am much more open to opportunities and learning situations now. There are still lots of changes happening in our lives, and different opportunities that come along, and that's great because as human beings we change daily as well. I think the number one thing I would like people to come away with after reading our book is to ask yourself, 'If I had the perfect life, what would it look like?' and then go out and make the choices to make it happen. I believe your response to the things that happen to you determine your success, or the lack thereof. Jimmy and I weren't perfect when we wrote this book, and we still aren't, but we are willing to work on it!"

One of the ways that the Gunsch's have chosen to mentor in their community is to donate $5.00 from every "Unbridle The Magic Within" book sold locally, to the the Leduc Victim's Services Pajama Program. The book can be found by going to www.unbridlethemagicwithin.com.

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